The Perfect Getaway - Greece

There is a folktale that goes something like this: when God created the world, he saved a gift for every country. He gave the Amazon Rainforest to South America, damp and cold weather to Great Britain, and sweltering heat to North Africa. God then asked Greece what it wanted. One problem - Greece was taking a nap. After waking up God said, “You were sleeping so I could not give you anything. However, I did save the most special thing for you. Dry weather, trees, clean oceans, beautiful beaches, and many mountains - the most perfect country to be…”

I have traveled to Greece over a dozen times and it is the most anticipated trip anyone can make. Greece is one of the best travel destinations for many reasons - it has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, landscapes, caves, and mountains. Island villages consisting of whitewashed houses with blue shutters, warm people, dry weather and a local taverna with exquisite Greek cuisine equate to a picturesque vacation. Greece also has a rich history that dates back to 2800 B.C. Remnants of history are found throughout the country. It is unfathomable how such colossal structures were built so long ago and yet thousands of years later they are still standing. One trip to Greece is not enough to cover all of its beautiful locations. But I happen to believe that this itinerary is the most enjoyable and fulfilling for a stay in Greece.

You can take a direct or one-stop flight to Athens Eleftheros Venizelos Airport. Athens is an older less developed European city that only deserves a few nights. Stay in a hotel in the downtown city center for two to three nights. If you are interested in some sightseeing, the first place you should visit is the Acropolis. You could take the metro or a 4-5 Euro cab ride to the bottom of the Acropolis. After a slippery walk up the front or back side of the hill, you pay an entrance fee (student discount offered) to view the famous Parthenon (left) and various structures that cover the top of the Acropolis. My favorite place is the giant Greek flag found in a small area at the edge of the Acropolis. You can also see the original statues and structures in the museum on the hill. After a quick stop for a frappe or coffee you can walk down the hill to Plaka which is the marketplace area that includes restaurants and boutiques. This is a good area to buy souvenirs and gifts for your family and friends. After some time in Plaka, walk over to Syntagma Square or the Greek Parliament to catch the changing of the guards (Evsones) taking place in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Greek guards wear traditional uniforms that are unique and very comical to say the least (picture right). The Greek neighborhoods of Kolonaki, Monastiraki, and Psiri are all in walking distance which are good areas for shopping and food and drink. If you’d like to capture an overhead panoramic view of Athens, head over to Lykavitos Mountain which is the highest point in the city. Up at the top you can visit the small church and enjoy a mesmerizing view of Athens and the surrounding mountain range. Another day should be used to go to Voulagmeni or Varkiza which are popular public beaches on the coast. Glyfada is a great area to experience the Greek nightlife that extends to the early morning hours. After exploring Athens, a quick 20 minute Aegean Air flight to Mykonos is in order. Known to be one of the biggest party places in Europe, this island hosts people from all over the world and consists of a beautiful port town and many famous beaches. Stay in the town of Mykonos to enjoy views of the famous windmills and walk through the small winding streets that are filled with shops, restaurants and bars. Mykonos (left) has some of the best food spots including some great bakeries. The bars stay open all night and the party keeps rolling day and night. Paradise and Super Paradise beach are famous locations where you can enjoy a swim in the crystal blue Aegean Sea water and soak in the hot sun (wear lots of sunscreen). You can R-V (very dangerous) or take 2 Euro bus rides to other beautiful beaches that adorn the island. The island is safe, filled with fun, and the most relaxing getaway one can experience. After a few nights in Mykonos, the tail-end of your trip should include the most popular destination in Greece, Santorini.

When most people think of Greece, a picture of a town in Santorini (right) comes to mind. To get to Santorini from Mykonos most people take a ferry or Flying Dolphin hydroplane. You could either stay in the town of Thira (Fira) or Oia. Thira is the main town on the island that includes many shops and more popular hotels. I stayed at Hotel Anteliz (right). If you and your spouse or girlfriend are visiting Santorini, the town of Oia is the more serene area of the island. People often forget that Santorini was created by a volcano that has been inactive for years. Scientists claim that if the volcano were to erupt, the explosion would have a force equivalent to ten atomic bombs. But that is not a worry when you are staying in Santorini. You can even take a boat island tour with food and drink included that circles the island. One stop allows you to do a quick walk-around on the volcano. Another stop includes a swim in sulfur baths which are hot therapeutic waters near the volcano. Throughout the island you can hop on a donkey for a fun but rocky ride up and down curvy roads and take a stop in any of the island’s towns for a nice dinner on a cliff overlooking the beautiful scenery that is Santorini. The island also has unique volcanic black and red sand beaches that are popular stops among tourists. After a quick flight back to Athens and a return home, you will have plenty to talk about your trip of a lifetime to Greece.

Eli Manning Gains Momentum

I am a New York sports fan. This simply means that I am overly critical about certain New York sports teams and their respective players. New Yorkers only expect the best from their favorite sports teams. No other city holds the most opinionated fan base. New York fans are not as ruthless as Philly fans. They have not remained perennial losers like Chicago or Boston fans (the Red Sox have changed that - the Celtics are about to as well). Yet New York fans tend to put athletes and teams on the chopping block even before careers or seasons begin.

A prime example is Eli Manning (AP Photo / September 9, 2007 right). He is the pipsqueak younger brother of the untouchable Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts. Eli has failed to convert a win in the first three playoff games of his career. This past Sunday, Eli erased that statistic by rolling over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa. It took Peyton six seasons and four attempts to get his first postseason playoff win. Eli is not as talented as Peyton, however, he is gaining confidence in his passing game and alertness in the pocket. His inconsistencies in the first few years of his career are diminishing due to a greater pocket awareness and less turnovers due to ill-advised passes. His decision to throw more balls away when hurried is leading to less fumbles and interceptions and in the last two weeks of football (vs. Patriots and Buccaneers) he has thrown 6 touchdown passes and has been the top quarterback. After some slow first half starts, Eli has shown that he can manage a game and handle the pressure and criticism from the New York fans as well as twin brothers Ronde and Tiki Barber. Jon Gruden’s intent was to stop the Giants run game and put pressure on Eli. Teams believe that stopping the Giants running game puts the ball in Eli’s hands which forces him to win, or lose the football game.

All this momentum can prove beneficial when the Giants play the Dallas Cowboys this weekend at Texas Stadium. QB Tony Romo has shown he can make big plays to down-field receivers like Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn, and Patrick Crayton. Tight end Jason Witten is also a threat to the Giants defense that has been relentless this season. But even without Sam Madison, the Giants secondary has been stifling. Dallas has a handful of injured players who are making returns such as Owens (high ankle) and Glenn (two knee surgeries). But inevitably this game will come down to Eli Manning as the Giants look to advance to the NFC Championship. Huge momentum shifts through defense will determine the outcome of this game. Both teams will have to be effective in the trenches to stop the run game and force both Manning and Romo to create effective offensive scoring drives. Giants win 35-31 in a nail biter. 

American Gladiators Back with a Bang

American Gladiators is back. I just said it - American Gladiators is back. I flip the channel to NBC (HD) and on the screen appears a 5-foot-7, 150 pound man taking on a 6-foot-7, 260 pound beast called “Mayhem” in a jousting event fifteen feet above a pool of water. I vaguely remember watching this show in the early 1990’s. Today I’ll be able to remember this revival that is giving me plenty to laugh about. The first amazing aspect of this show is that it is hosted by Hulk Hogan and Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Laila Ali. Hulk Hogan still has that flare he exhibited in wrestling and you know he is just itching to jump into the Gladiator Arena. I probably would advise him not to participate since his knees are barely holding him up. Laila Ali is another great addition since she looks like she could easily upend every contestant and Gladiator (males included). Her bicep is larger than the average man’s leg. The ten events are interesting as well. They are listed below:

Joust

Assault

The Wall

Hang Tough

Earthquake

Power Ball

Hit and Run

Gauntlet

Pyramid

The Eliminator (The one that can change it all)

Eight men and eight women compete in the preliminary round and four of each advance to the Semi-finals and then onto the finals. A contestant can advance with a low Eliminator time. The Eliminator is the final obstacle that is quite grueling. It involves wall climbing, sprints, and ropes. At the end of the Eliminator of the season premiere, one of the male contestants became emotional after losing. He had been waiting to compete for ten years. The out-pour for this show has been tremendous. It has been aired on ESPN Classic for a while and has gained media attention through articles in magazines such as Sports Illustrated and television ads on NBC. The centerpiece of the show is the Gladiators. They are responsible for terrorizing the contestants and preventing them from scoring points in each event. Ultimately, the two male contestants are competing against each other by accumulating points in events with the Gladiators - same with the female contestants. The male and female with the most points at the end of the show advance to the next round. American Gladiators include towering monsters named Justice, Mayhem, Crush, Militia, among others. These Gladiators stay in character with their respected nicknames throughout the show. Below is a clip from the original American Gladiators where “Malibu” is more or less attempting to explain his injury in an interview.   

The revival of the show is a great thing for television. Although I do not watch television often, American Gladiators makes Sunday night entertaining. The future of this show is very promising and the buzz surrounding it will definitely make it as successful, if not more, than its original format in the early 90’s.